Monday, March 23, 2015

Man from Reno: Murder, She Alluringly Wrote

Mystery
novelist Aki Akahori’s Inspector Takabe is like a Japanese Maigret, but her
life is about to turn into a Mary Higgins Clark novel, except darker. A chance
encounter with a seductive stranger leads to more intrigue than Akahori
bargained for in Dave Boyle’s Man from
Reno (trailer
here),
the best narrative award winner at the 2014 L.A. Film Festival, which opens
this Friday in New York.

Although
Takabe rules the Japanese bestseller lists, Akahori is uncomfortable with her
success. Tired of her celebrity status, she deserts her publicity tour, taking
refuge in San Francisco, where she once went to school. In her hotel, she meets
a handsome Japanese tourist from Reno, or so she deduces. She did not have a
tryst in mind, but she eventually yields to his charms. However, just when
things start heating up, he precipitously vanishes. Even more disconcerting are
the total strangers who suddenly want to take a quick look-see in her room for
who-knows-what.

Just
north of town, Paul Del Moral, the sheriff of San Marco, is also searching for
a Japanese man. In this case, it is the individual he accidentally hit during
severe fog-in, who up and left the hospital in a suspiciously rash manner. Soon
a dead body turns up in San Marco who seems to have some connection to the
fellow Del Moral dubbed “Running Man.” Inevitably, Del Moral’s investigation
will lead him to San Francisco and the increasingly uneasy Akahori.

Reno represents a
quantum step up for Boyle, whose previous films, like White on Rice, have been largely classifiable as romantic comedies.
His frequent collaborator Hiroshi Watanabe is also back in the fold, but this
time around he plays a strictly serious supporting role. Instead, Ayako Fujitani
and veteran character actor Pepe Serna take star turns as Akahori and Del
Moral, respectively. Expect to see more of them because they both make major
statements with their smart, charismatic, yet understated performances.

As
thrillers go, Reno (co-written by
Boyle, Joel Clark, and Michael Lerman) has several fresh twists and it nicely
captures the between-worlds vibe of the expatriate lifestyle. Technically
polished, Richard Wong’s evocatively noir cinematographer also heightens the
tension during several key scenes.

Murkier than one might expect, Reno is an effective somewhat romantic
suspenser that never rushes to tip its hand. Yet, it even more appealing to see
such a film anchored by people who look like Akahori and Del Moral. Granted,
Fujitani is a beautiful woman, but in a mature, cerebral manner. Likewise,
Serna is wonderfully grizzled, in a confidence-inspiring way. They are
terrific, carrying the film relay-style during their many solo scenes. Highly
recommended, Man from Reno opens this
Friday (3/27) in New York, at the Regal E-Walk.

About Me

J.B. (Joe Bendel) works in the book publishing industry, and also teaches jazz survey courses at NYU's School of Continuing and Professional Studies. He has written jazz articles for publications which would be appalled by his political affiliation. He also coordinated instrument donations for displaced musicians on a volunteer basis for the Jazz Foundation of America during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Send e-mail to: jb.feedback "at" yahoo "dot" com.